Vacuum cooler and air conditioner



May 25, 1954 N. J. PATTS VACUUM COOLER AND AIR CONDITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1951 T ll llllll INVENTOR. 7Zz'ck0 (0.5 i aifs',

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ATTD RN EYS Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning or refrigeration equipment of the type where evaporation of fluid is used as a cooling means, and in particular this invention includes an inner casing with a spray nozzle for spraying water or other refrigerants over an inner wall of glass wool, fiber, or the like and a surrounding outer casing whereby a pump withdraws air from the inner casing to form a vacuum chamber to accelerate evaporation, and air circulated through and withdrawn from the outer casing by a fan is cooled.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive unit for cooling or refrigeration which is so constructed that water or other liquid may be used as the cooling agent.

Various air conditioning devices have been provided, particularly where a refrigerant, such as ammonia, brine or other chemical is used as a heat absorbing agent but these require high pressure units in order to reduce the refrigerant to a liquid, or the like and whereas such units are efficient for extreme temperatures, it is desired to provide a unit adapted to be used in the average household and which operates to humid, as well as dry climates. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an air conditioning unit in which means is provided for removing air to produce a partial vacuum whereby evaporation of fluid sprayed oversuitable fibrous material therein is accelerated sufiiciently to absorb heat units from air passing through the unit.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing and operating an air conditioning unit so that a refrigerant may be rapidly evaporated for cooling or refrigeration purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioner and cooler for household use which although it operates successfully in dry climates, is particularly adapted for operation in humid climates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air conditioner and cooler, using evaporation of liquids as a refrigerant, which is of a simple and economical construction and which is also inexpensive to operate.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies an outer housing having a fan positioned in a sleeve extended from an opening therein with a motor mounted in the housing for operating the fan, an inner housing spaced from the outer housing providing a circulating air chamber between the housings,

a spray nozzle for spraying liquid over fibrous material forming a lining for the inner housing and a vacuum pump for withdrawing air from the said inner housing to provide a vacuum chamber and accelerate evaporation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the outer housing with the inner housing in dotted lines and looking toward the fan outlet or discharge of the outer housing.

Figure 2 is a similar elevational view taken from a point at a right angle to that from which the elevation in Figure 1 is taken showing the water inlet connection, vacuum pump and also the air discharge.

Figure 3 is also an elevational view looking toward the side of the device on which the vacuum pump is positioned.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the air conditioner and cooler showing the relative positions of the parts.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan through the device taken on line 6-$ of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved cooler and air conditioner of this invention includes an inner housing I0 having a lining ii of glass wool or the like held in position by a cylindrical wire screen I2, an outer housing I3 positioned over and spaced from the inner housing, a spray nozzle I4 having a fluid supply connection I5, a vacuum pump I6 and a blower including a fan I "I and a motor I8.

As illustrated in the drawing the inner housing I8 is provided with a base I9 that closes the lower end and the upper end is closed by a cover plate 28 which is secured to a flange 2| around the upper end by bolts 22. As shown in the drawings the housing I0, screen [2 and the outer housing I3 are cylindrical, and it will be understood that these elements may be of any suitable shape.

The outer housing I3 is provided with perforations 23 through which air is drawn into the housing, and the upper end is provided with a cover 24. The lower end is closed by a base 25.

The vacuum pump I6 is provided with a suction connection '26 that extends through the walls of the inner and outer housings and into a centrally disposed opening 2'! whereby air is drawn from the interior of the inner housing to provide a vacuum chamber therein so that fluid sprayed over the glass wool H, or other fibrous material is rapidly evaporated.

The fluid is supplied through a connection 15 and the fluid supply connection is provided with a valve 28,

The vacuum pump it is mounted on the outer wall of the outer housing by a bracket 29 and a discharge connection 3% extends from the vacuum pump to a point, preferably outside of an enclosure in which the device is positioned.

iihe blower formed with the fan El and motor is is supported on the inner surface of the outer housing is by a bracket 35 and the blower is positioned to discharge through a connection 32 that opens into a room or enclosure or that may be connected to suitable air distribution ducts.

With the parts arranged in this manner the vacuum pump iii exhausts air from the interior of the inner housing and with fluid sprayed therein and particularly over the fibrous material the fluid is rapidly evaporated and the evaporation of the fiLll-Cl causes the absorption of heat units whereby heat is drawn from the wall or the inner housing, cooling the wall.

With the blower operating air is circulated through the space between the inner and outer housings, being drawn into the outer housing through the openings 23 and this air is exhausted through the connection 32 into the room or enclosure so that the room may be maintained at a comparatively low temperature.

The motor til oi the blower may he supplied with electric current through a conduit 33 and the motor (35 of the vacuum pump may be provided with current through a similar conduit 35.

It will he understood that whereas water may be used as the refrigerant, ammonia, brine, alcohol or other refrigerants may be sprayed over the inner Wall of the inner housing.

The improved vacuum cooler and air conditioner of this invention has advantages over conventional. air conditioners, particularly over air conditioners oi the type using water, in that this refrigerating device is efiicient and practical in humid climates, as well as dry climates, because in this device evaporation is induced mechanically instead of depending upon the heat of the sun which is not always available, for the operating and these devices also depend on the humidity of the atmosphere, which, at times, is high even in dry climates.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air conditioner and cooler, the combination which comprises an enclosed inner housing, a continuous wire screen extended around the interior of the inner housing and spaced from the wall thereof, fibrous filling material interposed between the wire screen and housing, a spray nozzle positioned to spray fluid upon the fibrous material in the inner housing, an outer housing surrounding the inner housing and spaced therefrom, said outer housing having a plurality of spaced perforations therein, a fluid supply connection extended from the spray nozzle through the inner and outer housings, a vacuum pump positioned on the outer housing and having a suction connection extended into the interior of the inner housing, and a blower positioned in an opening of the outer housin 2. In an air conditioner and cooler, the combination which comprises an enclosed inner housing, a reticulated member extended around the interior or the inner housing and spaced from the wall thereof, filling material interposed between the reticulated member and housing, means for spraying fluid upon the filling material in the inner housing, an outer housing surroundin the inner housing and spaced therefrom, said outer housing having a plurality of spaced perforations therein, a fluid supply connection extended from the spray means through the inner and outer housings, a vacuum pump positioned on the outer housing and having a suction connection extended into the interior of the inner housing, and a blower positioned in an opening of the outer housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 521,783 Cox June 26, 1894 537,535 Kuphal Apr. 16, 1895 1,503,457 Curtis July 29, 1924 2,259,950 Downs Oct. 21, 1941 2,565,767 Gaskell Aug. 28, 1951 

